When I first got Anita, I had a lot of trouble with steaming.. I couldn't get anything but hot milk, or soap suds. So, I picked up the "Expobar Single Hole Tip", from WholeLatteLove. Instantly, microfoam was happening. After about a month or so of using that tip, I decided I wanted to learn how to use the much faster 2-hole tip which came with my machine. I watched the video by Scott Rao, about learning MF with Soap and Water. You dont have to worry about wasting milk at all with this technique. I took me probably, idk, about 45mins to get it down.. Then I tried with milk, and got it on my second pitcher. The video is easily found on youtube, but in short, fill the pitcher with as much water as you would milk, and put the smallest drop of liquid dishsoap that you can.. Literally one drop. Then, froth the "milk". It acts almost exactly like milk. In the video, its also about learning latte art, so he's got you pulling shots and pouring the soap/milk into them.. I dont see much need for that at home.

But, after I watched the video, everything clicked. Ill still use the single-hole tip now and then, but mostly when Im making a Machiatto.. For a traditional capp, Ive got the two-hole tip pretty much down pat.

Unless you are an uber-barista, everyone will have to spend some amount of time "Re-Learning" microfoam on a new machine.. Every machine has its own style which you need to adjust too.

Note: A couple months ago, I found out that I bought the last single hole tip from WLL, as a couple people were told they were sold out only days after I ordered.. I think it may be available elsewhere.. but I would Imagine WLL has them back in stock.. Its been a long while since I ordered it. Making your own with an Acorn Nut is pretty simple.. The hardest part likely is finding one with the right thread pattern.. Then you just drill a quick hole. If you go this route, id buy a couple nuts so you can try different size holes.

I've had the opposite experience with the Super Domobar single boiler.

I use only skim milk and a small pitcher and have perfect microfoam everytime without all the gyrations or exercises ie: putting pitcher in the freezer, playing with tips, types of milk etc.

Could be the luck of the draw, but I think its due to technique. I found the "sweet spot" in the pitcher that I go to everytime and then when the milk is pulled enough I go deep and wait for the temperature, but make sure there is lots of circulating movement which helps the microfoam.

Also the pitcher I have been using is "rounded" on the bottom 1/2. Just works everytime.

Psyd wrote:(snip) It worked. Or, you could do as some others have, get an acorn nut that fits your steam wand and drill a 1/16" hole in it.

I was wondering what those special tips were. I thought they looked familiar.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDK1XEF1iyE

I will have to check McMaster-Carr for a M10 one for my Promac. My Pavoni works fine with the stock one.

Here we go, 5 for 5!

http://www.mcmaster.com/#94000a040/=3myvr5

Gotsta go stainless!

Stainless is a bitch to drill, especially at small diameters. If you can find an EDM* shop with a sinker drill, it'll be worth the doremi.


* Electro Discharge Machining

I tend to steam milk in a 350ml jug, and steam for 190ml (6oz) ACF type cups as well as smaller volumed cups.

I think it is just a matter of getting your technique down. After getting a new machine, my once good technique goes completely out the window, and it takes me a bit of time to get down. I've recently swapped milk jugs as well, and my technique has needed to change to accommodate the change. But I half fill a 350ml jug, and I can get nice micro foam, though it did take me a good couple of weeks (after changing machines) to find the right techique. Rather disheartening time that was and I considered getting new tips and so forth during that time, but now things are back to normal now, it just took a while.

Yann

Lockman wrote:Gotsta go stainless!

Ugh... stainless IS a bitc... pain... to work. I'd get a nickle plated brass ones in inch size and get a number 10 metric stainless steel bolt to use as a tap. The bolt will easily cut the bras threads, the nickle will look much better than the stainless, and the hole can be done with anything harder than a butter knife. I cut my first naked PF (brass) with a hole cutter for wood.